Lok Sabha campaign begins in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Candidates, who won their party nominations in the race to the 16th Lok Sabha, kicked off their 25 day poll campaign on Friday, breaking coconuts at temples, visiting religious heads and community chiefs and roughing it out in torrid conditions to address voters in 20 constituencies across the State.

Union Minister of State for HRD, Dr Shashi Tharoor, offered coconuts at temples and “Namaste” to women, lined up for pongala. His main rival, Mr Bennet Abraham, called on NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair and SNDP chief Vellapally Natesan.

The youthful T Siddique arrived by Chennair Mail to a rousing welcome at Kasargod railway station as a huge crowd of UDF men virtually flung the rooftop with their slogans.

Kannur warhorse K Sudhakaran had hit the campaign trail even before the formal announcement of his candidature. He visited educational institutions, currying favour students.   

In Kollam, LDF candidate M A Baby and UDF candidate N.K. Premachandran unleashed the mother of all battles. The RSP leader took a round of Paripally, stopping by shops and houses, with a big crowd of UDF supporters in tow.

Despite searing temperatures in Palakkad, UDF’s veteran candidate  Mr M.P Veerendrakumar, launched a road show. Though all establishments have a summer break between 11 am and 3 pm, many wonder whether the SJ(D) veteran will extend it to his party workers.

Congress leader K P Dhanapalan, despite being shifted to Thrissur, was not disheartened. He kicked off his campaign by attending a reception at Thrissur DCC office.“I thought of contesting in Chalakudy since the party had decided to retain most of the sitting MPs. Moreover I had carried out a range of development activities in the constituency. But now I am prepared to fight from Thrissur,'' he added.

Mr Dean Kuriakose and Mr Joyce George, the two rookies in Idukki, took their first steps by calling on Cardinal George Alancherry, the head of Syro Malabar Church, at Ernakulam on Friday. Rival Joyce George, who is spearheading the agitation against the Kasturirangan Committee report, is the independent candidate on the LDF banner.

AAP candidates Ajith Joy, Sarah Joseph and Anita Pratap had already taken the lead since the party had already announced the list of candidates.